|
|
Kellen R. Nielsen
1987 ~ 2016
Our beloved son and brother, Kellen Ray Nielsen passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 26, 2016 in Provo, UT surrounded by his family. Kellen was born on January 10, 1987 to Raymond and Sandy Nielsen in Payson, UT. He grew up in Nephi, UT and graduated from Juab High School and LDS Seminary in 2005. He was a talented student-athlete, participating in three sports and earning multiple All-State and Academic All-State awards. He worked hard to excel and loved being on the field and court with his dad and brothers.
Kellen's greatest joy came in serving an honorable LDS Mission in Micronesia Guam where he made many lifelong friends and developed an incredible love for his Savior and the people he served. Those who knew him, know that he spoke often of his time on the island of Yap. With the Lord's help he was able to successfully master the Yapese language while serving there, and continued to honor that gift by serving as a Yapese translator for many LDS General Conference sessions. Kellen loved the scriptures and had a lasting testimony of the Gospel and of the Savior's love; we take great comfort in knowing that while his earthly mission is over, he has gone on ahead of us to prepare the way and to continue his missionary service.
Kellen graduated from Snow College with an associate degree in May 2009. He continued his studies in Education at Southern Utah University and Utah Valley University. He spent many years working in the family lawn care business with his dad and brothers. He was a youth athletic coach for BYU basketball camps and the Juab High School basketball program. He was also a respite care giver and was most recently employed as a drafter at Mid-State Consultants in Nephi. He enjoyed each employment opportunity that he had, and was grateful for the many good people he was able to associate with along the way.
Kellen was blessed with many gifts and talents, chief among them his capacity for loving and accepting others without ever passing judgment. He was a loving son, brother, and a friend to so many in his short time here. His greatest desire was always to love and help others. He loved being the older brother and taking care of his siblings. There was not anything he wouldn't do to help someone in need, and his final act of love was that of organ donation.
Kellen had an incredible sense of humor, a passion for sports, and a love of good books, loud music, and scary movies. We will miss his fun personality, his laughter and wit, and his giant loving bear hugs. We are blessed and honored to call him our son and brother, and look forward to that great day when we will be with him again.
We are eternally grateful for our extended family members, and the many friends, teachers, coaches, ward and community members, employers, and others throughout his life who were so good to our son. Many of you have expressed sadness in not being aware of his personal struggles. Please take heart in knowing that he kept his fierce battle mostly private because he didn't want to worry you. We know his spirit is finally at peace and hope that knowledge will bring each of you comfort in the coming days, weeks and years.
Kellen is survived by his parents Raymond and Sandy Nielsen of Nephi, sister Hali (Ryan) Newbold, brothers Landon, Logan (Kristin), Elder Nolan Nielsen currently serving in the Leeds England Mission, Brett Kassel, and sister Sadie; grandparents Ronald and Dee Pulse of Las Vegas, NV, best friend Randi Hepner, the family dog Rosco with whom he spent countless hours, and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services for Kellen will be held on Friday, July 1st at 11:00 a.m. in the Nephi First Ward Chapel at 222 South 100 East. A viewing will be held on Thursday evening at Anderson Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 p.m., and on Friday one hour prior to the funeral services. Burial will be at Vine Bluff cemetary in Nephi.
We express our love and gratitude to all of you, and to the Nephi City Police Department, Ambulance crew, and all of the wonderful staff at Central Valley Medical Center and the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center Neuro Shock Trauma ICU for their heroic efforts to save our son. We are especially grateful to our friend Dr. Grant Rasmussen for his loving care of and concern for Kellen during these last six years.
David L. Tolley
1955 ~ 2016
David Lamar Tolley of Nephi, Utah passed away on the 22nd of June 2016 at the age of 61 from complications of a stroke that he sustained last July.
He was born in Nephi, Utah on the 10th of January 1955 to Robert Lamar Tolley and Norma Rae Howlett. He spent all of his life in Nephi and only in the last months did he leave Nephi to reside in the Orem Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing facility.
He was a great cook for many years and worked at several of the finer restaurants of Nephi. In his younger years, he played tennis and enjoyed watching basketball. He had a kind soul, was loved and won't be forgotten.
He is survived by his mother, Norma Tolley, sister, Debra Schneider, brother, Dale Tolley and his two children, Rachel Bailey, and David R. Tolley, and four grandsons, Austin, Kameron, Christopher and Traden. Preceded in death by his father, Robert L. Tolley, and a brother, Robert R. Tolley.
Interment at the Vine Bluff Cemetery in Nephi.
|
